2FIRSTS | French Anti-Tobacco Group Contre-Feu Calls for Plain Packaging Across All Vaping Products
French group Contre-Feu is urging stricter regulations on vaping products, including plain packaging and a ban on online sales, to protect youth from nicotine addiction.Summary
French anti-tobacco group Contre-Feu released a statement on April 14th calling for increased regulation of the vaping industry, accusing manufacturers of targeting young people with marketing tactics that encourage nicotine dependence. The group specifically requests plain packaging for all vaping products, stricter control over flavor names (citing examples like “Licorne” and “Barbe à papa”), and a complete ban on online sales. Contre-Feu’s 2025 survey revealed that over half of 13-16 year olds cited fruity or sweet flavors as the primary reason for trying e-cigarettes. Data from the French Observatory for Drugs and Addictive Trends shows a significant rise in e-cigarette use among 17-year-olds, tripling since 2017. Despite a decline in traditional smoking rates in France, Contre-Feu argues that tobacco companies are shifting their focus to vaping to maintain nicotine consumption, dedicating a substantial portion of their marketing budget to these products. The French e-cigarette market is a lucrative one, generating nearly EUR 1.60 billion in revenue last year.
(Source：2Firsts)
